Paris, France. On January 15, 2013, the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of France, Marc Henry, will hold a press conference. The event will take place at the Press Club in the presence of French journalists. The subject of the press conference will be "Freemasonry and society in France and Europe."

The press conference will also be attended by the Grand Masters of GLTSO and LNF. The three Grand Masters will try to present the Masonic perspective for 2013 and to talk about the reunification of French Freemasonry.

Paris, France. On 18 December 2012 was held a meeting of the five Grand Lodge of France which intent to gain international recognition. In this regard their representatives signed a declaration to establish the Confederation of Traditional and Regular Grand Lodges of France.

Bern, Switzerland. The Grand Master of the Grand Lodge Alpina of Switzerland talked in his official message for 2013 about the need to respect the promises made and about the state of international Freemasonry.

"(...) Freemasonry was exposed to a virulent series of articles against it. The new social media of disseminating information (...) gave us a stark picture of our Brotherhood (...)," stated Jean-Michel Mascherpa in his speech.

Sucre, Bolivia. From 15 to 17 December 2012 was held the 11th National Congress of the DeMolay Order of Bolivia. According to the elections held during the congress, Mauricio Villafuerte Guerra was elected as Master National Advisor and Jorge Quintanilla was electes as Official National Executive. Next year, the Congress will be held in La Paz.

Bucharest, Romania. On December 21, 2012, will take place the Extraordinary Session of APMR's Council. On 22 and 23 December there will be several analysis sessions of the Agency regarding different Masonic jurisdictions of Europe, Asia, North and South America. The meeting will be chaired by APMR's Secretary-General following his re-installation. The Secretary-General shall be assisted by the Chancellor on Foreign Affairs.

Husum, Germany. The eleventh edition of the European Masonic Meeting will be held in Germany next year in the northern town of Husum. The event was held this year in Cyprus. The meeting will be hosted in 2013 by Zur Bruderliebe an der Nordsee Lodge (Große Landesloge der Freimaurer von Deutschland, founded in 1770, confederated to the United Grand Lodges of Germany), founded in 1906.

The Worshipful Master of the host Lodge, Brother Hauke ​​Thiesen, announced that the meeting will take place from May 31st to June 2nd, 2013. The official invitations will be sent via the Grand Lodges.

Apatzingán, Mexico. This evening will take place a special dinner gala to mark the anniversary of 152 years since the founding of the Supreme Council of Mexico. The event will take place in the "Los Caracoles" restaurant. The dinner gala will be attended by the Sovereign Grand Commander of Mexico, Manuel Jimenez Guzman, the Deputy of the Supreme Council in Michoacan, Fernando Lopez Alanis etc.

Singapore, Singapore. The Grand Secretary of the United Grand Lodge of England, Nigel Brown reopened last week Freemasons' Hall in Singapore. The building is a monument offered by Queen Victoria to the Freemasons of the former British colony. In the city-state there are 8 Lodges under the English Constitution.

Brasilia, Brazil. Oscar Niemeyer died at the age of 104 years. Brazil's most famous architect and one of the greatest architects of the modern world, Niemeyer was one of the fathers of modern architecture. Niemeyer participated in the construction of the current capital of Brazil, the Cidade Administrativa de Minas Gerais etc.

London, United Kingdom. It has been more than two years after the scandal that involved French Freemasonry and has gone around the world. It's been half a year since UGLE announced the suspension of relations with GLNF and nearly a quarter of a year since England decided to break relations with the French National Grand Lodge, but not quite definitely.

The appearance of the declarations of Basel and Brussels indicated that the five Grand Lodges of Europe, led by the United Grand Lodges of Germany, are determined to help change the landscape of French Freemasonry. However, the declaration of the new Grand Chancellor of the United Grand Lodge of England of September indicated that he expects GLNF to regain UGLE's recognition. Also, the Grand Chancellor Derek Dinsmore stated that for the moment there can be no question of recognizing another Grand Lodge in France.

This month, according to the official agenda set by the Grand Lodges of Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Austria will be issued a report on the state of French Freemasonry and the evolution of the negotiations that took place. In the same vein, in exactly one week will take place UGLE's Quarterly Annual Communication, the last of this year, where it is possible to be analyzed the decision of GLNF's new leadership and to take note of the report of the five European Grand Lodges.

The election of a new Grand Master and yesterday's decision of Servel, Grand Master of GLNF, to suspend Stifani seems to be a first step in rallying GLNF's policy with the statements made almost three months ago by UGLE's Grand Chancellor.

Stifani was suspended for unethical Masonic conduct, violation of fundamental rules, attempt against the Fundamental Principles of the Craft and attempting against the image and proper functioning of the French National Grand Lodge.

According to this decree, Stifani is forbidden to attend GLNF's Lodge meetings, the Annual Communication and Board of General Purposes. After years of internal struggle, Stifani is temporarily removed from GLNF, which may indicate that Servel wants to show to the United Grand Lodge of England that GLNF can have once again credibility.

Paris, France. On 28 November, Grand Master Marc Henry issued a statement to members of the Grand Lodge of France presenting the situation regarding the negotiations held for the "unification" of the French Masonic landscape.

GLdF's leaders hosted in recent months a series of bilateral meetings with other Masonic organizations in France (GLTSO, LNF, GL-AMF and GLIF). The Grand Masters have discussed on the autonomy of the Grand Lodges, respecting the independence of all practiced rites, on a Masonic conduct that falls within the Masonic tradition and regularity.

In the view of the Grand Lodge of France, the French Masonic union can formed with the existence of a national confederation.

Montevideo, Uruguay. After founding two new Lodges within the country the Women's Grand Lodge of Uruguay decided that involvement in social activities in the country is required to show their support for civil society actions.

In this regard, headed by Grand Master Alicia Toyos, WGLU's members attended the rally organized by "Women in Black" NGO. The organization is an international team composed of women who promote peace. This social movement was born in Jerusalem in 1987. On November 25, they marched against violence.

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IN MEMORIAM Alicia TOYOS

EXCLUSIVE | Interview with the first (woman) Grand Master in the history of the Republic of Uruguay, Alicia TOYOS | This interview has an exclusive character, being part of the Exclusive Collection of Interviews of the Masonic Agency. The republication (total and/or partial publication) of this interview is strictly prohibited.